Apparatus for moving furnace electrodes



APPARATUS FOR MOVING FURNACE ELECTRODES Filed Feb. 25, 1921 5 sheets-sheet 1 IN VEN TOR Wa/de nar Uyrxen 4 %W;

I A TTORNE Y Apr. 3, 1923. 1,450,668

w, DYRSSEN APPARATUS FOR MOVING FURNACE ELECTRODES Filed Feb. 25, 1921 5 sheetssheet 2 IN VEN TOR Wa/demar flyrisen 134 A TTORNEY W. DYRSSEN APPARATUS FOR MOVING FURNACE ELECTRODES Apr. 3, 1923.

Filed Febv 25, i921 5 sheets-shee 3 11V VEN TOR flyrijen A TTORNE Y Apr. 3, 1923.

7 1,450,668 W. DYRSSEN APPARATUS FOR MOVING FURNACE ELECTRODES Filed Feb. 25 1921 5 sheets-sheet 4 IN VE N TOR Wd/r/legzar fiyrssen A TTORNE Y Apr. 3, 1923. 1,450,668

'w, DYRSSEN APPARATUS FOR MOVING FURNACE ELECTRODES Filed Feb. 25, 1921 5 sheets-sheet- 5 a? 1 ss b Q\ g\; JNVENTOR P Wa/demar Ugmsen ha I g AqTORNE Y Patented Apr. 3, 1923.

WALIDIEEHIAR DYRSSEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR MOVING FURNACE ELECTRODES.-

Applicatlon filed February 25, .1921. Serial No. 447,848.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VALDEMAR DYRSSEN, a subject of the'King of Sweden, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, 5 have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forMoving Furnace Electrodes, of which the following is a s ecification.

his invention aims to provide means for 1 moving the electrodes in an electric furnace.

Means are provided for automatically controlling tlie raising and lowering of the electrodes according to variations inthe heating current, or such movements can be con- 1 trolled at will by an operator. The apparatus is designed and arranged so that a plurality of electrodes can be independently actuated by a single motor. I

Heretofore furnace electrodes have been moved up and down by winches each driven by a separate motor, the motors being, reversible and controlled by suitable reversing switches, which in some instances are actuated automatically by variations in the heating current Inpractice I have observed that such arrangements are far from per-- feet. It takes considerable energy and time to start the motor and also requires brake action and time to stop and reverse it. This results in making the electrodes slow tos'tart and slow to stop. It also makes the electrode hunt, that is, move several times both up and down before stopping in the desired position. The heating current, therefore, is not constant and great variations in power input takes place. The motors must also be many times larger than necessary,

because they receive the starting current each time a regulation takes place, which sometimes is as frequent as one hundred times per minute. These -motors must be direct current motors and often a special continuous running motor-generator set must be employed for producing the required-dire'ct current. This makes such installations expensive as does also the provision of a separate motor for each electrode.

My improved apparatus requires only one motor of small capacity which can be op-' erated on either direct or alternating current for any number of electrodes. There is usually plenty of alternating current available around the furnace as that is the current supplied for heating purposes and I, theremay be of any fore, prefer to use an alternating current motor although it is clear I may also use a direct current if desired.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which ig. 1 is a side elevation showing one embodiment of my invention applied to an electric furnace having a plurality of electrodes;

Fig. 2 is a plan on a larger scale showing the several hoisting drums which are adapted to be actuated by a single motor;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section illustrating a change speed device and mechanism for reversing the operation of the drums which actuate the electrodes;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are sectional views respectively on lines 4-4,.5-5 and 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. .Tis a diagram showing electrical circuits' for either automatically or manually controlling the movements of the electrodes.

Referring to the embodiment oi the invention asshown in Fig; 1, the furnace 1 is of the tilting type carried on rockers 2 which aresupported on base rails 3 carried on a suitable foundation 4. The furnace is rovided with a plurality of electrodes 5 w ich are secured by suitable clamps 6 to horizontal arms 7 carried by upright posts8. Current is supplied to the electrodes through suitable flexible conductors 9. To the rear of the furnace is secured anupright guide channel 10 having rollers 11 and 12 jour- .nalled thereon to guide the post 8 in its movements. There is a separate arm 7 and post 8 for each electrode and they are moved independently of one another by the improved mechanism herein described, which receives its power from a single motor. "The furnace structure, the electrode supports and the guiding means for the upright post 8 approved construction and the furnace may be of either the tilting type or the fixed type in so far as the present invention is concerned.

To the bottom of each post 8 is secured a guide sheave 13 and to the upper part of the guide 10 is journalled a fixed sheave 14. A cable 15 passes over the sheave 13 and 14 and is secured at 16 to a fixed part of the furnace structure. The other end of this cable is secured at 17 to a winding drum 18 carried by a shaft 19 which carries a worm gear 20. The worm gear 20 is driven by a worm 21 secured to a shaft 22 which is jour nalled in suitable fixed bearings 23. On its rear end this shaft has keyed thereto a pinion 24 which meshes with bevel gears 25 and 25 carried respectively by the webs 26 and 26' of the internal gears 27 and 27 The bevel gears 25 and 25' and their corresponding internal gears 27 and 27 are loosely mounted on bushings 28 carried by a shaft 30 which is mounted in suitable fixed bearings 29. The internal gears 27 and 27 mesh with planetary gears 31 and 31 carried on studs 32 and 32' which are secured to discs 33 and 33'. These discs are loosely mounted on bushings 34 and 34' carried by the shaft 30. The outer peripheries 35 and 35' of the discs 33 and 33 constitute braking surfaces which are adapted to co-act with brakebands 36 and 36 which are both actuated by identical mechanism such as shown in Fig. 5. One end of the brake band 36 is secured to a fixed pin 37 and its other end is secured to a stud 38 carried by the arm 39 of a lever 40' pivoted at 41 to a fixed bracket. At its free end the lever 40' is pivotally secured to a core 42 which is moved up ,and down by a solenoid 43.. The brake band 36 is'actuated by a solenoid 43 co-operating with a core 42 carried on the outer end of a lever 40 as indicated in Fig. 3.

The above described arrangement of the gearing is duplicated for each electrode and,

therefore, the description of the operation will apply to the several unit mechanisms for operating each electrode. Such unit mechanisms being indicated generally at A, B and C.

The several units derive their power from the common shaft 30, having for each unit two gears 45 and 45' keyed thereto as shown in Fig. 3. Inoperation when the solenoid 43' is energized it will clamp the brake band 36' to the disc 33'. Then as the shaft 30 rotates in the directionof the arrows a: in Figs. 3 and 4, the planetary gears will turn on their studs 32 in the direction of the arrow 1 Fig. 4, and thereby drive the internal gear in thedirection of the arrow a which motion will be transmitted through bevel gears 25 and 24' so as to turn the shaft 22 in the direc-' tion indicated by arrow 8, Fig. 3. This will turn the drum 18 through worm 21 and worm Wheel 20 in the direction of arrow 25 1 Figs. 1 and 3, and will, therefore, pay off the cable 15 and permit the electrode 5 to move downwardly. If the solenoid 43' is energized the motion will be transmitted in a similar manner through gears 31, 27, 25 and 24 so as to turn the. drum in the direction opposite to thatindicated by arrow t and the cable will therefore be wound up on the drum to lift the electrode. If neither of the solenoids 43 or 43' are energized no motion .Will be transmitted to the drum even though the shaft 30 be rotating. In this case the gears 45 and 45' acting through the planetary gears 31 which are in mesh with the internal gear 27, will cause the discs 33 and 33 to be rotated, carrying with them the planetary gears which at this time travel in a circular orbit around the shaft 30 in the direction indicated by arrow m in Fig. 4. At such times it will be understood that the gears 27 and 27 are held against rotation by the worm and gear 21 and 20.

From the above it will be clear that any one of the several electrodes may be raised or lowered by means of power'transmitted through the shaft 30. It is also clear that the energization of either solenoid 43 or 43' of a given unit will determine the direction of movement of the corresponding electrode. These solenoids are adapted to be either automatically actuated according to variations of current flowing through the electrode or they may be controlled by manually oper-.

ated switches or push buttons all as hereinafter more fully described.

When the movements of the electrodes are automatically controlled it is desirable that the motion be a comparatively slow one and when their movements are controlled manually, which is usually at the time the furnace is to be charged, or when 'a new electrode is to be inserted, it is desirable to move the electrode or its holder more rapidly in order to save time. To secure this differential movement of the electrodes or the electrode holders, I employ a speed change device, as illustrated at the right in Fig. 3, and in Fig. 6. This device comprises a member 46 keyed on the end of the shaft 30 and adapted to .be rotated at different speeds. This member carries studs 47 on which are rotatably mounted planetary gears 48 adapted to co-act with the teeth of an internal gear 49. The member 46 has a flange portion 50, the inner surface of which is of frustoconical formation as shown at 51. The outer periphery of thegear 49 is tapered at 52 to co-operate with the surface 51. At 53 the gear is provided with a second tapered surface adapted to engage a similar surface 54 formed in the annular flange 55 of a fixed bracket 56. This bracket carries a bearing 57 in which is fitted a bushing 58 which in turn slidably supports an elongated'sleeve 59 integrally formed on the web of them-- the oppoaxial alignment with the shaft 30 above described. Said shaft 70 carries a bushing 71 on which the sleeve 59 of the internal gear slides when the lever 64 is rocked. Power is transmitted to the shaft 70 through a gear 72 keyed to the outer end thereof and meshing with a pinion 73 carried on a shaft 74 of the motor 75.

With the parts of the speed change device in the position shown in Fig. 3, that is with the surfaces 53 and 54 held in engagement with each other by the spring 65, the rotation of the shaft 70 in the direction of arrow 00 will cause the planetary gears 48 to turn in the direction of the arrow y which action will cause the planetary gears to travel also in their circular orbit as indicated by broken line m Fig. 6, because the internal gear at'this time is held stationary, thus the member 46 will be turned in the direction indicated by the arrow m and will turn the shaft 30 at a much slower speedthan the speed at which the shaft 70 is rotating.

en it' is desired to quickly raise or lower the electrodes or their holders, under manual control, it is only necessary to shift the lever 64 so as to slide the gear 49 to the left and brin its surface 52 into engagement with the sur ace 5,1 of the member 46/ This will result in a substantially direct connectionbetween the shafts 70 and 30 and thereby increase the speed at which the electrodes can be moved, the planetary gears serving at this time to lock the internal gear 49 to the gear 69.

The circuits for controlling the movements of the electrode are shown in Fig. 7. Current for each of the electrodes is supplied from a suitable source to the bus-bar 76 around which is wound a transformer coil 77 connected by leads 78 and 79 with a contact-making ammeter comprising a coil 80 and a core 81 the upper end of which is connected to a lever 82 pivoted at 83 and carrying a contact 84 adapted to engage either of the contacts 85 or 86. The contact 85 is connected by a wire 87 to the solenoid 43 which controls the downward movement of one electrode. This solenoid is connected by a wire 88 to a feed wire 89 leading to a suitable source of either direct or alternating current. The circuit for this solenoid is completed from the other feed wire 90 through wire 91, switch 92, wires 93 and 94 and contacts 84, 85 and wire 87. The solenoid 43 for controlling the upward movement of the electrode is in a circuit with the contact 86 which is connected by a wire 95 ,with a lead 96. Current flows through the solenoid and wire 97 to feed wire 89, the circuit being completed as before through wires 91, switch 92, wires 93 and 94, contacts 84' and 86. With this arrangement it will be apparent that fluctuations in the current flowing through the bus bars 76 to the electrodes will vary the strength of the induced currents in the transformer 77 and thereby cause the plunger 81 to be either raised or lowered and make contact at either point 85 or 86 thus closing the circuit through either solenoid 43 or 43 to cause the electrode to move respectively downwardly or upwardly. For automatic control the switch 92 will be in the position shown in full lines, and for manual control this switch will be thrown over to the dotted line position. This will close a circuit from feed wire 90, wire 91, switch 92, wire 98 through the solenoid 68 and wire 99 thus completing the circuit to the other feed wire 89. This will shift the lever 64 and couple the shaft and 30 so that the latter will be rotated at high speed. Then by manipulating the push button switches indicated at 100 and 101 the electrodes may be moved upand down under the manual control of an operator. These switches are connected respectively by wires 102 and 103 with the solenoids 43 and 43, both of said switches being connected by a wire 104 with the contact 105. It is clear, therefore, that if the push but ton 101 is actuated a circuit will be completed from feed wire 89, wire 88 through solenoid 43, wire 87, contact 85, wire 108, switch 101, contact 105, switch 92, wire 91 completing the circuit to the feed wire 90. The solenoid 43 will, therefore, tighten the brake-band 36' so that the gear 25', through the connections already described will rotate the drum 18 in the direction 22 so that the electrode will be lowered. In a similar manner if the switch 100 is actuated the solenoid 43 will tighten the brake band 36 and through the described gearing cause the drum 18 to move in the opposite direction, therefore lifting the elect-rode, it being understood, of course, that the operator can break the circuit by manipulation of either button 100 or 101 to stop an elect-rode or its holder in any desired position.

With the apparatus and the circuit arrangement herein described for controlling the operation thereof I can, if desired, employ a switch or switches as described in my co-pending application Serial Number 436,634, filed January 12th, 1921, for cutting out either the upward or downward motion of the electrodes to prevent hunting, at the time that the charge is being melted down.

Though I have described with great particularity of detail the specific construction and arrangements of the embodiment of the invention illustrated, it is to be understood that changes in' construction and the substitution of mechanical equivalents can be made without departing from the invention as defined in the following claims.

What I claim is:-

1. An electric furnace including in comhination a plurality of electrodes, a single motor and connections for raising and lower ing said electrodes independently.

2. An electric furnace having a plurality of electrodes, a single shaft carrying driving means for raising and lowering said electrodes and a single motor for driving said shaft.

3. An electric furnace having a plurality of electrodes, drums for raising and lowering said electrodes, a single shaft for driving said drums, means carried by said shaft whereby said drums can be driven in different directions, a motor for driving said shaft and means for selectively effecting the driving engagement between any one of said drums and said shaft.

4. An electric furnace having a plurality of electrodes, a shaft rotating continuously in one direction, intermediate connections between said shaft and said electrodes and means for controlling the direction of movement of said electrodes by said shaft.

5. An electric furnace having a movable electrode, a drum and connections operati-vely associated with said electrode, a shaft rotating continuously in one direction for driving said drum and means operatively connected with said shaft for reversing the direction of rotation of said drum.

6. An electric furnace having a movable electrode, a drum and connections operatively associated with said electrode, a shaft rotating continuously in one direction for driving said drum and means operatively connected with said shaft for reversing the direction of rotation of said drum and means actuated by the current flowing to the electrode for determining in which direction the drum shall be rotated.

77. An electric furnace having movable electrodes, a motor rotating continuously in one direction, atv a substantially constant speed, drums for moving said electrodes, a

single shaft carrying means for driving said drums in different directions, and means operatively connected with. said motor for moving said shaft at different speeds.

8. An electric furnace having a movable electrode, a motor rotating continuously in one direction at a substantially constant speed, a shaft connected by differential gearing to said motor for moving said electrode, and means operatively connected with said differential gearing for controlling the rate of rotation of said shaft.

9. An electric furnace having a plurality of electrodes, drums for raising and lowering said electrodes, a continuously rotating shaft for driving said drums, planetary gearing carried by said shaft for transmitting motion at different speeds.

10. An electric furnace having a plurality of electrodes, drums for raising and lowering said electrodes, a continuously rotating shaft for driving said drums, planetary gearing carried by said shaft for transmitting motion at different speeds, and means actuated by the current flowing to the electrodes for effecting the driving engagement between said shaft and said drums and controlling the direction of movement imparted to said drums.

11. In an apparatus for moving the electrodes in an electric furnace, a motor rotating at a constant speed while the furnace is in operation, a shaft connected by planetary gearing with said motor, means associated with said planetary gearing for varying the rate at which motion is transmitted tosaid shaft, and electrically operated means for controlling the last named means.

12. In an apparatus for moving the electrodes in an electric furnace, a drum for moving the electrodes, a continuously rotating shaft, internal gears loosely mounted on said shaft and carrying bevel gears, a bevel pinion meshing therewith for driving said drum, separate planetary gears driven by said shaft and co-acting with said internal gears, discs loosely mounted for rotation on said shaft and supporting said planetary gears, and means for preventing the rotation of either of said discs to cause said shaft to rotate said drum in a selected direction.

13. An electric furnace having a plurality of electrodes, means actuated by a single motor for raising or lowering said electrodes and individual reversingmechanisms for controlling the direction of movement of each electrode.

14. An electric furnace having an electrode, a shaft and intermediate connections including reversing gearing for moving said electrode in opposite directions and magnetic means controlled by the heating current suppliedto electrodes arranged to control the operation of, said reversing gearing.

In w1tness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

WALDEMAR DYRSSEN. 

